Royal Albert have always considered themselves the underdogs of Scottish junior football – but every dog has its day.

For the first time ever, the Albert – a Larkhall club but who play games at former junior side Stonehouse Violet’s Tilework Park – have sealed promotion from the McBookie.com Central League Second Division.

And should results go their way this weekend they could still go up as champions, which would be only the fourth trophy success in their 140-year history.

Secretary Peter Higgins says it’s astounding success for a club that truly operates on a shoestring budget.

He said: “I’ve been with Royal Albert for 25 years and I never thought I would see the day that we would be promoted – we were always the poorer of the Larkhall teams, but as they say, every dog has its day.

“It’s a fantastic achievement, considering we only had three home games all season.

“We play at Tilework Park, the ground where Stonehouse Violet used to play, but there has been damage to the drainage system, and most of our ‘home’ games have either been at Lesmahagow or Carluke, so that has been an added cross to bear.”

Peter added: “We got to two Scottish Junior Cup semi-finals and won the old Lanarkshire League between 1934-37, but that was the last thing we ever won.

“We do go down in history, however, as the first British team to ever score a penalty.

“This is a major achievement for us. We don’t spend money, we have no finances to pay players, they play for the love of the game, although we do give them travel expenses for away games.

“We live on a shoestring budget, existing from season to season, and this has been a good job well done, which proves that it’s not always about money, when everybody is pulling in the same direction.”

Delighted manager Jamie Nesbitt said: “This is my second full season, although I played with Royal Albert. The whole thing is a fairytale, really.

“Peter Higgins tells me that if we win the league it will be the first time we’ve done that since season 1936-37, so it has been a long time coming, and we’ve done it the hard way.

“It’s an unbelievable achievement, and it’s really just because the players have bought into the methods that myself and the coaches have been using, and they’ve run with it.

“If we end up with promotion we will be happy with that, but there is a chance that they could walk away with a medal at the end of the season, which would be incredible.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that’s what I’ve been telling them. They might not be in this position ever again, I might never get this opportunity again, and Royal Albert might never get this opportunity either, given their past history.”

Albert are also urging supporters and football fans in general to subscribe to their 100 Club initiative, which involves 100 fans paying £30 a season to help keep the club afloat, or people can sponsor players for £100 for a season. For more information call 07719 384581.